Proverbs 25:1-16: a reflection

1These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out. 2It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter. 3As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable. 4Take away the dross from the silver, and material comes out for the refiner. 5Take away the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness. 6Don’t exalt yourself in the presence of the king, or claim a place among great men; 7for it is better that it be said to you, “Come up here,” than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, whom your eyes have seen. 8Don’t be hasty in bringing charges to court. What will you do in the end when your neighbor shames you? 9Debate your case with your neighbor, and don’t betray the confidence of another, 10lest one who hears it put you to shame, and your bad reputation never depart. 11A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. 12As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover to an obedient ear. 13As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to those who send him; for he refreshes the soul of his masters. 14As clouds and wind without rain, so is he who boasts of gifts deceptively. 15By patience a ruler is persuaded. A soft tongue breaks the bone. 16Have you found honey? Eat as much as is sufficient for you, lest you eat too much, and vomit it.

Among these proverbs is a piece of wisdom about honor and humility: Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, or claim a place among great men; for it is better that it be said to you, Come up here, than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince. Rather than pushing yourself forward and grasping for a place of honor, take the lower place, and let honor come to you, if it comes, from another. It is a wisdom Jesus himself would later teach.

Notice the counsel: do not seize honor for yourself; take the lower place. The one who grasps for status, who pushes himself forward and claims a place among the great, risks the humiliation of being put lower; but the one who takes the humble place may be invited higher. It is better to be raised by another than to exalt yourself and be brought down. Humility does not grasp for honor; it takes the lower place and leaves the rest to others.

That wisdom cuts against a natural instinct. We are prone to promote ourselves, to angle for recognition, to claim the place of honor we think we deserve. But this proverb, and Jesus after it, counsels the opposite: take the lower place; do not grasp for status; let any honor be given, not seized. There is freedom in this, and dignity; the one who does not grasp for honor need not fear being brought down. Do not exalt yourself or angle for recognition. Take the humble place, serve where you are, and leave any raising up to God and others. It is better, and wiser, to be invited higher than to promote yourself and be humbled.

Lord, your word counsels me not to exalt myself or grasp for a place of honor, but to take the lower place, for it is better to be invited up than to be put down; and Jesus himself taught this. Cut against my instinct to promote myself. I am prone to angle for recognition, to push myself forward, to claim the place of honor I think I deserve. But you counsel the opposite: take the lower place, do not grasp for status, let any honor be given rather than seized. Give me the humility to take the humble place, to serve where I am, and to leave any raising up to you and to others. Free me from the need to promote myself and the fear of being overlooked. Help me not to exalt myself, but to take the lower place, trusting you to lift up in your own time and way whoever you will.